Critical Design Reseach

Gerd Rothmann: Golden Oval

Golden Oval, for Felicitas Frischmuth, 1987

This bracelet is utterly simply and extremely thoughtful. The artist/ designer Gerd Rothman himself describes this piece:

When putting a bracelet on, one usually places the thumb on the inside of the hand. From an anatomical point of view, it is not necessary for a bracelet to take the form of a circle, but rather of a special form of oval.

The pulling in of the thumb is such a simple and innocuous act that most everyone does when they wear a bracelet. This make you reflect on the very procedure of wearing jewelry. I love that the gold highlights the shape of the oval and the very point Rothmann is trying to get across.